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Turkey Must Stop Speaking With Pre-Conditions

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  • Turkey Must Stop Speaking With Pre-Conditions

    TURKEY MUST STOP SPEAKING WITH PRE-CONDITIONS
    Naira Khachatryan

    Hayots Ashkhar Daily
    05 Sep 2008
    Armenia

    The Responsible Representative of the Office of Armenian Cause and
    Political Issues of ARFD Bureau Kiro Manoyan was the guest of "Urbat"
    club yesterday.

    After the independence of the Republic of Armenia, by making
    pre-conditions, Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic relations
    with our country. Kiro Manoyan says in case Turkey doesn't change
    that stance, the visit of the Turkish president to Armenia won't
    change anything. "The visits aimed at advocacy will never change the
    atmosphere. There should be a political will, and Turkey is the one
    to display that political will. They should change their policy of
    the previous 17 years towards Armenia."

    "Why did Gyul accept the visit made by Armenian President? Do you think
    by this visit the Turkish President will come out with new proposals?"

    "In my view Turkey's interest derives from the notion that their
    policy adopted beginning from 1993 (blockade, refusing to establish
    diplomatic relations) actually failed. And this fact makes them take
    certain steps.

    We shouldn't overlook the fact that the war somehow made the processes
    taking place in the region swifter. But I don't think the Turkish
    President will ever cede. The only change will be their refusing
    pre-conditions, and their20posture to speak with ultimatums, though
    I wouldn't like to hurry in my optimism," Kiro Manoyan said.

    As regards the protest function organized by Dashnaktsutyun party:
    "If in our country it is allowed to hold protests against the President
    then we can definitely hold a demonstration against the person invited
    by the President, especially if it is within the politically accepted
    norms.

    We shouldn't also forget that it is the first visit of the Turkish
    President to Armenia and we must remind him that this visit doesn't
    imply anything, in case we manage to solve the problems existing
    between the two countries. We will express our political posture in
    a normal accepted form. In my view our President will understand this
    and I'm sure our people will participate."

    Touching upon the pre-conditions the speaker said: "If we start
    speaking with pre-conditions, then we have both political, legal and
    moral grounds to make pre-conditions. But we never do that. And they
    also don't have the right to speak with pre-conditions.

    The issue of the Genocide is one of their pre-conditions, which is
    firstly a matter of security for Armenia. If we start establishing
    relations with a country that has committed a crime against us,
    against humanity and they don't want to accept it, to shoulder
    the responsibility, how can we be in normal relations with that
    state? Artsakh=2 0issue is Turkey's next pre-condition. They say:
    "Either you will do what Azerbaijan wants or we will close the
    border." But we are against it. They also dictate us to refuse our
    rights, to recognize Kars agreement, which is an illegal document and
    has been many times breached by Turkey, itself. These are the issues
    that must be discussed."

    According to the speaker the opening of the boundary can become an
    indicator of changing the stance: "After all Turkey must do that,
    if they want to change their hostile attitude towards Armenia. The
    blockade that Turkey has started against Armenia is a form of war,
    according to the international law. If they want to have normal
    relations with Armenia they must at least lift the blockade. But the
    opening of the border won't solve all the issues. We also need a regime
    regulating the border, which is possible only after the establishment
    of diplomatic relations. Thus Turkey has lots of things to do. But
    the opening of the border can be completed very swiftly."

    Armenia must be prepared for the opening of the border. "Should we
    not be prepared for the opening of the border it can have very bad
    consequences.

    For example last week Turkey announced that the government would
    pay credits without percentage to the exporters. It will give an
    opportunity for invasion, which will harm our economy, in case we
    are not well prepared f or that."
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